​Friday’s historic Supreme Court ruling granting same-sex couples the right to marry across the United States arrived “like a thunderbolt,” President Barack Obama said, delighting progressive supporters but enraging conservative opponents.

Following the Court’s
5-4 decision, President Obama said, “This ruling is a victory
for America.”

“Progress on this journey often comes in small increments,
sometimes two steps forward, one step back, propelled by the
persistent effort of dedicated citizens. And then sometimes,
there are days like this, when that slow, steady effort is
rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt,”
Obama said from the Rose Garden.

He added that the Supreme Court “reaffirmed that all
Americans are entitled to equal protection of the law, that all
people should be treated equally regardless of who they are or
who they love."

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton
tweeted that she is “proud to celebrate a historic victory
for marriage equality—& the courage & determination of
LGBT Americans who made it possible.”

Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage
equality—& the courage & determination of LGBT
Americans who made it possible. -H

Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, also a Democratic
candidate for president, said the court “fulfilled the words
engraved upon its building: ‘Equal justice under law.’”
Other Democratic candidates also weighed in:

For too long our justice system has marginalized the gay
community. I'm very glad the Court has finally caught up.
pic.twitter.com/aeNG8UOszt

Outside of the Supreme Court, activists and same-sex couples
celebrated the decision once it was handed down. Under the
ruling, couples around the US will be able to enter civil
marriages regardless of their sexual orientation.

Conservatives, however, reacted angrily, with nearly every
Republican candidate for president excoriated the ruling. Perhaps
the strongest condemnation came from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal,
who just declared his candidacy. He said the decision would lead
to an “an all-out assault on religious freedom guaranteed in
the first amendment” and later suggested eliminating the
Supreme Court entirely.

“The Supreme Court is completely out of control, making laws
on their own, and has become a public opinion poll instead of a
judicial body,” he told an Iowa crowd during a speech.

“If we want to save some money, let’s just get rid of the
court.”

Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and
no earthly court can alter that. http://t.co/1Kfw9l0KMG

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Tea Party favorite and harsh critic of
same-sex marriage, said the Supreme Court has delivered “some
of the darkest 24 hours in our nation’s history.”

Speaking on Fox pundit Sean Hannity’s radio show, Cruz said the
Court’s rulings on Obamacare and gay marriage “were both
naked and shameless judicial activism.”

“Today, this radical decision purporting to down the marriage
laws of every state. It has no connection to the United States
Constitution,” he said. “They are simply making it up.
It is lawless, and in doing so, they have undermined the
fundamental legitimacy of the United States Supreme Court.”

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick
Santorum and other GOP candidates also expressed their anger.

I’m a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe
the 10th Amendment leaves it to each state to decide this
issue. #SCOTUS

Notably, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who many consider a
frontrunner for the GOP nomination, also steered clear of
directly railing against same-sex marriage, instead saying he
believes states should be allowed to make their own decision on
the matter.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which has argued intensely in
favor of equal rights for gay couples, celebrated the ruling.

“Today's decision has been 50 years in the making and will
stand with Brown vs. Board of Education as one of the landmark
civil rights moments of our time,” said Anthony D. Romero,
ACLU executive director, in a statement.

“Now we take the battle for full legal equality to the
states, where 31 states have yet to pass any statewide LGBT
non-discrimination laws. The wind is at our backs, and we are now
on the cusp of achieving full legal equality for LGBT Americans
across the country.”